Equipment, Inspection, Testing and Tagging

Procedure

1 Purpose
Ensures the University and its Employees are compliant with legislative requirements in relation
to electrical equipment, classes of work, inspection, testing and tagging to provide a safe and
productive workplace.

2 Scope
Applicable to all Employees, Students, contractors and visitors while they are at the University.

3 Procedure Overview
The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), requires employers to provide for the health and
safety of their Employees. The University has an obligation under its "Duty of Care" to provide
as far as is practicable:

A safe place of work.

Safe systems of work.

Safe tools and equipment.

To meet this obligation, all electrical equipment used in the various Classes of Work, will comply
with the requirements of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), Work Health and Safety
Regulation 2011 (Qld), Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld), Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld)
and relevant Australian Standards.

4 Procedures
4.1 Inspection, testing and tagging
Testing and tagging is to be conducted in accordance with the references and the requirements
in the following paragraphs. Where there is a confliction, the higher standard is to be met.

4.2 Construction work

Usually applicable to Campus Services and/or Contractors Only.

Complying with the law and observing Policy and Procedure is a condition of working and/or studying at the University. A hard copy of this
electronic document is uncontrolled and may not be current as the University regularly reviews and updates its Policies and Policy Instruments.
The latest controlled version can be found in the University’s Policy and Procedure Library.
Please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld) Section 104 and AS/NZS 3012
(Electrical Installations - Construction and demolition sites).

4.3 Manufacturing Work

All Specified Electrical Equipment used in the defined Manufacturing Work areas, must be
inspected, tested and tagged and connected to a Type 1 or Type 2 Residual Current Device,
(RCD).

Inspection, testing and tagging of double insulated equipment must be conducted every 12
months and non-double insulated equipment must be conducted every six months.

Portable Safety Switches - are to be tested daily by the operator or before every use, whichever
is the longer, and by Campus Services at intervals of not greater than 12 months. (Note: From 1
March 2008 portable RCDs are no longer allowed in Manufacturing Work.)

Permanent Safety Switches - are to be tested by the operator every six months and by Campus
Services at intervals of not greater than 12 months.

Please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld) Sections 105 to 110 and Standard
AS/NZS 3760.

4.4 Service Work or Office Work

All Specified Electrical Equipment used in Service Work or Office Work areas must be
connected to a Type 1 or Type 2 Residual Current Device, (RCD). There is no requirement to
test and tag electrical items in these areas if they are connected to an RCD. There are still a few
areas within the University that are not protected by RCDs and their tagging and testing
schedule is managed by Campus Services.

Portable Safety Switches are to be tested every three months by the operator and by Campus
Services at intervals of not greater than 12 months.

Inspection, Testing and Tagging of Specified Electrical Equipment of all Classes of Work must
comply with the requirements of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld) Section 111 to 113
and AS/NZS 3760.

4.5 Hiring/lending
Electrical equipment which is hired or loaned from the University must meet the following
requirements:

either be inspected and tested before each hiring or have a safety switch that cannot be
disconnected, deactivated or removed during the item's operation and

Complying with the law and observing Policy and Procedure is a condition of working and/or studying at the University. A hard copy of this
electronic document is uncontrolled and may not be current as the University regularly reviews and updates its Policies and Policy Instruments.
The latest controlled version can be found in the University’s Policy and Procedure Library.
 be inspected, tested and tagged every six months.

For USQ compliance with this Regulation, the inspection, testing and tagging, must be carried
out by a Competent Person and will be the responsibility of the faculty/department.

Records of all inspections of electrical equipment hired or loaned must be kept by the
appropriate faculty or department and a copy forwarded to Campus Services.

4.6 Amusement Work

Prior commencement to the performance of Amusement Work at a workplace refer to the
Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld) Section 83 Definitions for div 5 to verify the activity as
'Amusement Work'. If the work is to be carried out on an amusement device refer to the
Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld) Section 114 to 118 and AS/NZS 3760.

4.7 Double adaptors and piggyback plugs

The use of piggy back plugs or double adaptors is prohibited within the University except in
performance theatres for the function of powering performance requirements where the
following applies:

double adaptors must not be used:

the use of piggyback plugs is acceptable only when wired by competent, appropriately
trained, certificated and authorised personnel;

where manufacturing type work occurs such as installing a set both double adaptors and
piggyback plugs are not to be used.

4.8 Training
All Employees who require training for conduct of the operator tests are requested to contact
the University Safety team or Campus Services.

4.9 Personal electrical equipment

The owner of personal electrical equipment must ensure that it is safe for use and, if required
by regulation, have a valid test tag applied prior to it being brought onto University property or
used for University purposes.

Electric fans must meet the Regulation requirement for guarding safety as well as for electrical
safety (e.g. a child's small finger should not be able to fit through the holes in the guard if the
child is able to access the fan).

Complying with the law and observing Policy and Procedure is a condition of working and/or studying at the University. A hard copy of this
electronic document is uncontrolled and may not be current as the University regularly reviews and updates its Policies and Policy Instruments.
The latest controlled version can be found in the University’s Policy and Procedure Library.
Personal fan heaters must have a thermal cut-out switch and portable bar heaters are
prohibited from use on University property.

Electrical items such as coffee makers, electric jugs, sandwich makers, toasters, microwave
ovens etc. must be used in the kitchenette areas only as the fire detection system provides for
such use.

5 References
Nil.

6 Schedules
This procedure must be read in conjunction with its subordinate schedules as provided in the
table below.

7 Procedure Information

Subordinate
Schedules

Accountable Officer Executive Director (Human Resources)

Policy Type University Procedure

Approved Date 12/12/2018

Effective Date 3/4/2019

Review Date 3/4/2022

Relevant Legislation Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)

Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld)

Standard, AS/NZS 3760 and AS/NZS 3012

Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)

Related Policies Work Health and Safety Policy

Related Procedures

Related forms, Laboratory Safety Manual

publications and
websites Work Health and Safety Manual

Definitions Terms defined in the Definitions Dictionary

Complying with the law and observing Policy and Procedure is a condition of working and/or studying at the University. A hard copy of this
electronic document is uncontrolled and may not be current as the University regularly reviews and updates its Policies and Policy Instruments.
The latest controlled version can be found in the University’s Policy and Procedure Library.
 Employee

A person employed by the University and whose conditions of

employment are covered by the USQ Enterprise Agreement and
includes persons employed on a continuing, fixed term or casual
basis. Employees also include senior Employees whose conditions of
employment are covered by a written agreement or contract with the
University.

Procedure

An operational instruction that sets out the process to operationalise a

Policy.

Student

A person who: has been Admitted or Enrolled in an Academic

Program at the University, but has not yet graduated from the
program; or has been Enrolled in a Course at the University but has
not yet completed the Course.

University

The term 'University' or 'USQ' means the University of Southern

Queensland.

Definitions that relate to this procedure only

Amusement Work

Please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld) Section 97

Definitions for div 6.

Class 1 work

Means:

1. construction-type work; or

2. work done in conjunction with construction-type work.

Class 2 work

Means the work of assembly, fabrication, installation, maintenance,

manufacturing, refurbishment or repair, but does not include work that
is class 1 work.

Complying with the law and observing Policy and Procedure is a condition of working and/or studying at the University. A hard copy of this
electronic document is uncontrolled and may not be current as the University regularly reviews and updates its Policies and Policy Instruments.
The latest controlled version can be found in the University’s Policy and Procedure Library.
 Class 3 work

Means work that is not class 1 work, class 2 work or class 4 work.

Class 4 work

Means office work

Construction Work

For Construction Work please refer to Work Health and Safety Act
2011 (Qld) usually conducted by Campus Services or Contractors.

Also please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld)

Section 97 Definitions for div 6.

Hiring and Lending

For the purposes of these Procedures, any electrical item that is

loaned from the University must meet the same standard as items that
are hired.

Please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld) Section

194.

Manufacturing Work

Faculty of Arts

1. Q2 Block, Arts Workshop

Campus Services

1. O2 Block, Workshops

Distance and e-Learning Centre

1. Electronics Workshop

2. Studio Workshop

Faculty of Engineering and Surveying

Complying with the law and observing Policy and Procedure is a condition of working and/or studying at the University. A hard copy of this
electronic document is uncontrolled and may not be current as the University regularly reviews and updates its Policies and Policy Instruments.
The latest controlled version can be found in the University’s Policy and Procedure Library.
 1. Z Block, Z209 Energy Systems Workshop

2. Z Block, Z217 Electronics Workshop

3. Z1 Block, Concrete Testing Workshop

4. Z4 Block, Engineering Workshop

5. P1 Block, Agricultural Field Station

6. P3 Block, Workshop

7. P4 Block, Workshop

8. P10 Block, Workshop

9. P12 Block, Workshop

10. P2 Block, Workshop

11. P11 Block, Workshop

Faculty of Sciences

1. U Block, Sciences Workshop

2. W Block, W419 Psychology Workshop

Please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld) Section 97

Definitions for div 6.

Service Work or Office Work

All other University work areas.

Please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld) Section 97

Definitions for div 6.

Specified Electrical Equipment

Please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld) Section 97

Definitions for div 6.

Keywords Testing, tagging, electrical equipment

Record No 13/318PL

Complying with the law and observing Policy and Procedure is a condition of working and/or studying at the University. A hard copy of this
electronic document is uncontrolled and may not be current as the University regularly reviews and updates its Policies and Policy Instruments.
The latest controlled version can be found in the University’s Policy and Procedure Library.
 Complying with the law and observing Policy and Procedure is a condition of working and/or studying at the University. A hard copy of this
electronic document is uncontrolled and may not be current as the University regularly reviews and updates its Policies and Policy Instruments.
The latest controlled version can be found in the University’s Policy and Procedure Library.

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